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How Can We Add a Co-founder to Our Corporation?

Logo for Avvo, where Dana Shultz answered a quesiton about how to add a co-founder to a corporation

This post is based on a question about how to add a co-founder to a corporation that I answered recently on Avvo. The question and answer are paraphrased below.

Q. I would like to add a co-founder to an existing corporation. Does the Founder Agreement need to be changed? How can I make a co-founder designation?

A. The term “add a co-founder” has little or no significance in this context.

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Printing Legends on Share Certificates – Why and How

Sample Share Certificate to illustrate printing legends on share certificates

Sample Share Certificate with Legend from Attorneys Corporation Service, Inc.

Last year, I wrote about the importance of a corporation’s placing appropriate legends on share certificates (Why Do We Need a Corporate Records Book?) and likewise for limited liability company membership certificates (Should My LLC Issue Membership Certificates?). This post provides more details about why legends are required and how to print legends on share certificates. (Although I am using corporation-specific terminology, the considerations are similar for LLCs.)

When including legends on share certificates for clients, one of the most important states that the shares have not been registered under state or federal securities laws.  (I have the company that provides the certificates include it when the certificates initially are printed.) The reason: To put the shareholder on notice that, under applicable securities laws, the shares cannot be transferred unless certain circumstances are satisfied. Here is an example:

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Why did both the President and the Secretary of the Corporation Sign that Document?

John Hancock's signature

Contracts and other documents usually are signed on behalf of a party by a single representative (see Who Can Sign a Contract for a Corporation?). However, at least in California, important documents often are signed on behalf of a corporation by two officers, such as the President and the Secretary. This post explains the reason for two signatures.

Corporations Code Section 313 says, in relevant part (emphasis added) that: (more…)